GARAGE LIVING BLOG

Wall Organizers

Excess garage clutter creates all sorts of problems. It restricts you from parking inside, makes it difficult to find items, and simply limits the functionality a garage is supposed to provide.

Considering a 2-car garage in the average home can comprise 13-15% of your home’s overall square footage, that’s a lot of wasted real estate you could be making better use of.

Adding garage storage solutions like overhead racking and cabinetry can be a big help in restoring your garage to an organized state once again. So can adding garage wall panels to keep your floor clutter-free.

Two of the most popular options when it comes to garage wall panels are slatwall and pegboard. So what’s the smarter choice?

What should you be considering when buying garage wall panels?

When choosing what type of garage wall panels to go with, consider how important these nine factors are to you:

quality

durability

storage space needed

aesthetics

load capacity required

ease of installation

variety of hanging accessories

convenience of use

price

Let’s break down each consideration individually.

1. What kind of quality are you looking for in your garage wall panels?

Pegboard is perforated hardboard that’s most commonly found in 1/4″ thick 4′ x 8′ panels. If you’ve ever handled a sheet of pegboard this size, you probably noticed how much flexibility it had.

One word that possibly came to mind after seeing this was “flimsy”. That’s not exactly a quality one wants in their new garage wall panels, is it? Pegboard, which is similar to particle board, also tends to chip and split quite easily.

When it comes to slatwall panels, there’s a couple of different types that offer more sturdiness. MDF (medium-density fibreboard) slatwall panels are quite heavy and come with horizontal rows for hanging accessories.

A more modern, improved version of MDF slatwall panels are slatwall panels made with a cellular foam PVC construction. They offer several benefits over traditional MDF slatwall panels, including durability, moisture resistance, weight, and looks.

One additional concern related to quality is the stability of the wall panels’ hanging accessories. Pegboard hooks commonly get knocked off when an item stored on them is removed. Slatwall accessories, however, provide more stability.

2. How important is durability in your garage wall panels?

As mentioned, pegboard can’t measure up to either type of slatwall panel when it comes to durability. Some homeowners setting up garage wall panels even make the mistake of going with a 1/8″ panel thickness when buying pegboard.

That’s an invitation for all sorts of potential problems. Even buying a harder-to-find tempered pegboard won’t give the same durability as slatwall garage wall panels.

Why? Because garage wall panels need to be able to handle a couple of specific challenges:

the wear and tear of tools stored on the panels being frequently picked up and stored again (especially in workshop-oriented garages)

the changing temperatures and moisture levels that a garage environment is subjected to (PVC slatwall panels are more resilient when it comes to these two factors)

“Heavy-duty” (as opposed to “flimsy”) is most definitely a quality you should be looking for in your garage wall panels. And slatwall panels certainly fulfill that requirement.

3. How much garage wall storage space will you need?

Your garage walls offer plenty of underutilized storage space just waiting to be used. But how much space will you need to store everything currently cluttering up your garage floor?

Do you have lots of yard tools and a big family that requires the storage of numerous bikes and lots of sports equipment? All of these items can be stored on slatwall panels.

Factor in everything you currently own, along with how much extra space you might need to store future tool and equipment purchases. As with anything storage-related, it’s always wiser to add extra storage space if possible, just to give you some flexibility later on.

The number of garage wall panels you’ll need might very well be a determining factor in which type you choose, because prices will vary. More on that shortly.

4. How important are garage aesthetics to you?

Pegboard offers few choices when it comes to panel colors. Ugly white and brown pegboard panels are what you’re most likely to find, which can leave you with a garage interior that looks partially like this:

Yes, pegboard can be painted, but then you have to worry about dried paint clogging the holes. That can make it difficult to insert hooks and other hanging attachments, which leads to further work drilling holes through the dried paint.

And after all that, you’ll still be left with something that detracts from your garage’s interior appearance instead of adding to it (particularly if you’re adding several wall panels).

More color choices also means more design flexibility if you’re looking to complement the rest of your garage’s décor. That can be helpful if you’re adding other upgrades like a floor coating or cabinetry.

The clean, finished look and superior level of organization that PVC slatwall panels add to a garage space.

5. What load capacities do you need from your garage wall panels?

An important deciding factor when buying an organization system for your garage walls is weight capacities. If you’re going to the trouble of adding wall panels in your garage, you should want them to handle the weight of just about anything that’s hangable.

Pegboard shows its limitations in this particular area. Smaller hand tools and lighter yard tools won’t pose much of a problem, but a heavier bicycle or push lawn mower? Not likely.

Garage Living’s PVC wall panels have a load capacity of 40 lbs/sq in and can safely hold items weighing up to 50 lbs with our heavy-duty slatwall brackets. That gives you more hanging storage flexibility.

6. Are you planning on installing your own garage wall panels?

When garage wall panels are installed, you’ll need to account for various wall obstructions. This can include things like receptacles, conduit pipe, and light switches.

Our workers are skilled at making sure this tricky process is done correctly so your wall panels perfectly fit within your garage space. Garage floor sloping and ceiling unevenness are also accounted for.

Extra finishing touches that includes trim for ends, corners, and any gaps, along with color-matching screws, leaves your garage wall panels with a clean, cohesive look.

One major drawback with MDF slatwall panels is their weight (as much as 100 lbs per panel). That makes them quite difficult to work with.

7. Are you looking for a wide variety of hanging accessories?

You can find enough basic hanging accessories for pegboard panels, but probably not more than the 40+ types of hanging accessories available for PVC slatwall panels.

The wide range of hanging accessories is what really separates this storage system from the other types of garage wall panels available.

The numerous sizes of hooks can be used to hang items like bikes, small or large tools, power cords, ladders, sports equipment, and more. Magnetic tool bars and a screwdriver holder can also be used for small tool storage.

When it comes to rack storage, PVC slatwall panels can accommodate fishing rod racks, racks for golf equipment and other sports equipment, and even a paper towel rack.

Baskets, shelving, and small storage bins can also be added to your garage slatwall panels to hold everything from easy-to-lose small hardware pieces, to cleaning supplies, to your gardening supplies and tools.

Just a few of the 40+ slatwall hanging accessories available for PVC slatwall panels.

8. Which garage wall panels offer the best convenience of use?

Once you’ve installed a pegboard wall panel and set up all the hanging attachments, it can be a big headache when it comes time to shift items around or make space for a newly purchased item. That’s one of the limitations that comes with the individual holes that make up the pegboard’s design.

It’s more convenient making changes to the storage setup of PVC wall panels because you can easily shift items horizontally to make more room.

9. What’s your budget when buying garage wall panels?

Pretty much the only area where pegboard panels are a more attractive garage wall panel option than slatwall is when it comes to price. But as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for”.

As the weather warms up, you’ll find that you’re spending more time in the garage working on projects and getting tools for yard maintenance. You may come to the realization that your garage storage systems are in need of improvement.

If your current garage storage systems just aren’t giving you the storage space and degree of organization you need, there’s a wiser solution than undergoing a costly renovation to make your garage bigger. We have five garage storage systems that maximize your existing storage space and allow you to maintain a peak level of organization and efficiency in the garage.

1. Overhead garage storage systems

The space above your head in the garage is commonly underutilized. You’ll free up lots of garage floor space by putting this unused space to work with overhead storage racks. Our heavy-duty overhead storage racks can hold up to 600 lbs, are adjustable to accommodate your changing storage needs, and come in six different sizes.

Store bulky items like patio furniture, storage bins, and your out-of-season vehicle tires in our overhead storage racks that feature a powder coated finish to ensure a long life. Or you can store your tires in one of our other practical garage storage systems – a heavy-duty wall-mounted tire rack.

2. Specialty storage racks

Our specialty storage racks offer additional garage storage systems that can be used for specific needs. They include:

3. Slatwall storage

Another storage area in garages that isn’t taken full advantage of are the walls. One of the most effective garage storage systems you can choose is slatwall storage. This system uses durable PVC wall panels that can be installed securely on studs, drywall, and concrete. The panels come in five different colours, are easy to clean, and give your garage a much more finished look.

More than 40 types of slatwall accessories are available for hanging items that can weigh up to 50 lbs. For example, our slatwall-mounted golf rack is perfect for storing your golf equipment. With so many accessories and a limitless number of possible storage configurations, you’ll love the flexibility and storage space that a slatwall system provides.

4. Garage storage cabinets

As much as slatwall panels can improve your garage’s interior aesthetics and functionality, garage storage cabinets can take these two areas to the next level. The wide varieties of garage cabinet colours and custom options available can be used in conjunction with your slatwall panels to complement your garage’s existing décor or even match the colour of your vehicles.

Garage cabinets can be used for storing items both large and small. Keep your small tools in locked drawers, bottles of car cleaning products in the upper or lower cabinets, and jackets or larger items in the locker-sized cabinets. We also have garage storage cabinets (like our GL Hayley and GL NEOS Elite systems) that can enhance the functionality of a more task-oriented garage space.

5. Car lifts

All of these garage storage systems will provide more room for parking in your garage. If you have a one car garage, however, even a completely cleared garage floor won’t allow you to park two vehicles inside…unless you have a 4 post car lift installed that is.

4 post car lifts also make use of your garage’s underutilized vertical space, allowing you to double your parking space. We have three models available that can hold vehicles weighing up to 9,000 lbs.

Let our garage storage systems make your life easier

To find out how these useful garage storage systems can make your life easier, schedule your free in-home consultation with one of our design experts today.

Toronto resident Jay Kerr, recently had a one car garage makeover by Garage Living that left him quite impressed. This Q & A finds out why Jay needed the one car garage makeover, what he had done, and why he absolutely loves it.

What made you decide to get this one car garage makeover?

For over a year, I kept thinking about how nice it would be to have a clean and organized garage. I was tired of the unfinished look of the garage and the overall lack of organization, which made it difficult to park my car in there. The garage floor needed to be finished. The concrete floor was cracked in a few place and just didn’t look very appealing.

Jay’s garage prior to the makeover.

Was it difficult keeping your one car garage floor clean?

The garage floor was always dusty and dirty and it wasn’t particularly easy to clean. I would often need to sweep it out, which was a messy job. In the springtime, it was especially messy with the dirt and salt that accumulated over the winter.

Were you aware of the high quality garage floor coatings available?

Garage Living’s Floortex™ polyaspartic floor coating completely opened my eyes to the fact that a high quality floor coating can add undeniable visual appeal to your garage space, as well as be easy to maintain. I did my homework and learned that polyaspartic garage floor coatings have several advantages over epoxy coatings.

What type of garage organization system were you using?

I had a metal shelving unit from a big box store that was falling apart. That seems to be a common thing with many of their products – they have a very short shelf life, no pun intended. The cheap particle board shelves were warped, sagging, and popping out of place.

Hockey sticks were piled in the corner and I had a few cheap hooks and nails to hang brooms and lighter items. I wanted to get things off the floor and organized onto the wall, something that could support items such as a ladder, garden hose, or a work bench. I’m the type of person that likes to have things neat and organized, but the DIY storage system I had wasn’t working.

Tell us about the slatwall garage storage system you had installed

The grey slatwall panel system is a great storage solution. It was installed along the length of the side walls, which I now realize is underutilized storage space in most garages. Now I have a place for everything. The slatwall system allows me to get nearly everything off the garage floor and onto the wall. That gives me space to park my car. It also makes it much easier to clean the floor because the only thing I have to move out are the garage bins.

Before – unfinished garage.

After – new slatwall panel system and Floortex™ floor coating in Nightfall color.

How about the slatwall accessories you chose?

I’m still figuring out new ways to utilize and arrange the different hooks and shelves that are available. One of my favourite slatwall accessories is the 8″ double hook I use to store my hockey sticks. I also use these hooks to store other items like brooms and shovels. My ladders are now on the wall and the hanging wire bins are perfect for car cleaning products.

Hanging slatwall accessories for all of your garage belongings.

What type of Floortex™ floor coating was applied in your one car garage makeover?

There are a bunch of floor coating colors to choose from and I chose the Nightfall color. The new Floortex™ floor coating is a huge improvement compared to my old concrete garage floor and I look forward to enjoying it for many years to come. I had the work done in November and it was convenient that the colder weather wasn’t an obstacle to having the Floortex™ floor coating applied.

How much easier is it to clean your garage floor now?

The floor is much, much easier to clean now. I can sweep out the dirt and hose it down to keep everything looking new. Garage Living also has a great squeegee that I can use to make the cleaning process quick and efficient. The Nightfall’s dark grey colour also hides the dirt well in between cleanings.

Did your one car garage makeover include anything else?

Yes, one of the biggest improvements was simply upgrading to an LED garage light. I’m sure many homeowners just live with a single light bulb in the garage, as I was doing. It’s a simple upgrade but it makes such a huge difference. I can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner.

A new LED garage light makes a huge difference.

Did your one car garage makeover have any challenges to deal with?

I had a few issues with one wall. We renovated the house eight years ago and the contractor left an electrical conduit and a wood post on what used to be the outside of the house, now the inside wall of the garage. I was concerned about the Garage Living installers being able to remove everything but it was gone within an hour. I also had some concerns about the natural gas line on the inside wall. They put the slatwall behind it and everything looked neat and tidy when they were done.

Any challenges with the garage floor?

The front corner of the garage was unfinished and there was a gap between the concrete floor and the drywall. There was also a cinder block in the corner that jutted out a bit. Garage Living suggested two options. They could fill the gap in the floor with cement and finish the drywall in the corner. That would take longer and add more to the cost than I anticipated. A cheaper and easier solution was to box in the awkward corner and seal it with the Floortex™ coating, which is the solution I chose.

The outside wall of the garage had a cinder block foundation that was two blocks high. Garage Living applied their Floortex™ floor coating up and over the cinder block for a finished look that also seals the floor and acts like a baseboard. Now when I hose out the garage to remove the dirt and salt from the winter, I don’t have to worry about the water damaging the drywall.

A problematic corner with a cinder block jutting out and gap between the garage floor and wall.

The problem is solved by boxing in the corner and adding Floortex™ coating.

How long did the one car garage makeover take?

The flooring took a full day to clean and prepare. By the end of the day, the floor coating was done and had to dry overnight. I couldn’t walk on it for a day. After that, my car and garbage bins were back in the garage. The slatwall and new light was installed in less than a day after that. Everything was completed on time and to my complete satisfaction.

How easy was Garage Living to work with?

Everybody was courteous and happy to answer any questions I had throughout the entire process. I especially appreciated the advice and options that were presented to me in regards to the issues with the garage wall and corner. That’s what great customer service is all about.

How satisfied were you and your wife with the garage makeover?

I was extremely happy with the end result. Everything looked brand new and finished and I look forward to keeping the garage much more organized now. My wife was amazed when she saw the final results.

What are your neighbours’ impressions of your one car garage makeover?

Many neighbours have come by to look at the end result and everyone has been more than impressed. I think most people aren’t used to seeing a clutter-free garage with a finished floor and a car parked inside. One neighbour even said that my garage looked nicer than some of the rooms in his house!

So you find yourself parking your car in the garage more now?

I park my car in the garage all the time now. We have a large maple tree that shades our driveway and the birds love sit on the branches and bomb our cars. My car stays cleaner now and I love that I never have to brush the snow off in the winter. I also have the peace of mind knowing that my car is protected and secure. Our other car was left unlocked in the driveway one night and somebody broke in.

Are you planning on using Garage Living for future garage upgrades?

Yes. My next upgrade will be a better garage door and garage door opener. I’m a tech geek and I love that today’s garage door openers have modern features that allow you to control the door from anywhere with a smartphone. I sometimes forget to close the garage door and would like something that does this automatically or that alerts me when it is left open for a long period of time.

Find out more about garage makeovers with your free in-home consultation

Jay loves what his one car garage makeover has done to improve his garage space. His is just one among the thousands of transformative garage makeovers that Garage Living has done throughout North America, for garages of all sizes. Some of them can be viewed here. Schedule your free in-home consultation today with one of our design consultants to discuss your own garage makeover.

Unfortunately, your spouse needs convincing. Perhaps their concerns simply require them receiving a little more education about the process and the value it will have. So how do you get your spouse on-board for a garage renovation? Try these nineusefultips:

1. Do your homework about a garage renovation

Your first step will be to do some homework about what’s involved in a garage renovation. You don’t need to have all the answers. Just arm yourself with enough facts and information to adequately support your reasons for wanting a garage makeover and have a general idea of what should be expected with one. Poor preparation when discussing this project with your reluctant spouse will only hinder your case.

Visualize what you want your garage renovation to include. Sketch out how you want your new garage to look and learn a little about the products that might be used to realize this vision. You can learn more about our products on our website and also by visiting a Garage Living showroom.

Keeping the garage organized improves its functionality and allows your spouse to park their vehicles inside the garage, which provides protection from the elements and keeps them and your vehicles safer

Adding a garage door opener makes daily life more convenient, especially with modern features like MyQ® Technology that lets you monitor and control your garage door from anywhere via a smartphone

3. Appeal to your partner’s self-interest

Appeal to the self-interest of your partner and incorporate their storage needs into the garage’s design. Are they an exercise or sports buff? Create a section of the garage that they can use as an exercise area. This could include slatwall panels and slatwall accessories for storing their equipment. Here’s an example of a fitness-themed garage:

A slatwall system is also ideal for storing the belongings of anyone who enjoys gardening or yard work. Create a designated wall for your spouse to store their tools and gardening apparel. Maybe your spouse’s favourite hobby requires a workshop. We can create a great garage workspace using our high quality cabinetry and even add a foldaway workbench.

4. Have your spouse research how satisfied homeowners are after a garage renovation

Get your spouse Googling and they’ll find an overwhelming number of homeowners who have undergone a garage renovation and are thrilled with the results. They can research review sites like Yelp, home improvement forums, and social media sites that feature information sharing about home-related topics, such as on Houzz.

5. Bring your spouse to our large showroom

Visit our large showroom with your spouse. You can get an up-close look at every single high quality product we offer and view fully outfitted garage displays. Seeing our products in person will give your skeptical spouse a better sense of the value of our garage improvement solutions. Our helpful staff will be happy to answer any questions you and your spouse might have about our products and services.

6. Have your spouse look at before and after garage makeover photos

Before and after photos can be very helpful for showing just what kind of transformative effect a makeover can have on a garage. We’re experts at taking cluttered and drab garage spaces and turning them into a part of your home that’s functional, organized, and attractive. Here’s an example:

Garage Living client’s garage before makeover

The same garage after the makeover

7. Remind your spouse that a garage renovation adds value to your home

Undergoing a garage renovation now may require spending money, but remind your spouse it’s a sensible investment. Improvements made to your garage, especially the high quality improvements Garage Living can add, do more than just make your family’s lives easier. They’ll also increase the value of your home.

8. Choose a reputable garage makeover company

One of your spouse’s concerns may be the quality of work that will go into a garage makeover. Garage Living is a rapidly growing company that has completed many thousands of garage makeovers throughout North America. Our experienced team of designers, installers, and service personnel place the utmost priority in ensuring the work our customers receive meets the high standards Garage Living has set for itself.

9. Learn more about a garage renovation during your free in-home consultation

A garage remodel shouldn’t cause tension between you and your partner. Maintain good communication, be understanding of each other’s concerns and wishes, and arrive at decisions that ensure you’re both satisfied with your garage renovation project.

Garage Living Calgary recently donated a SportScreen garage door protector to the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association for one of their Novice age group tournaments. Okotoks is a town located about 18 km south of Calgary.

What is the SportScreen garage door protector?

The SportScreen is a sports training tool that is essentially a tarp made of high-tenacity open mesh polyester fabric that can be mounted above a garage door. This made-in-Canada product also has a convenient remote control roll-up feature.

Kids (or anyone older who’s still clinging to that dream of an NHL career) can practice their hockey shooting skills using real pucks or balls and the SportScreen will protect their garage door from dents. It also cuts down on the racket that’s created from this activity. Lacrosse, baseball, and soccer shooting will additionally work with the product, which was featured on TV’s Dragon Den program.

SportScreen works outside or inside a garage

SportScreens can also be set up inside a garage, which is handy for shooting practice when the weather is particularly unpleasant. One of Garage Living Calgary’s recent garage makeovers included the addition of the SportScreen.

Complement the SportScreen with a slatwall sports equipment and accessory wall

The garage makeover also included the addition of slatwall panels with slatwall accessories. This creates a sports equipment and accessory storage wall that keeps your belongings and garage interior organized.

Add Floortex™ floor coating to complete your garage project

Rounding out the garage makeover is an application of Floortex™ floor coating. There are 15 floor coating colours available and the client chose Obsidian for this project. A Floortex™ floor coating is perfect for a garage where the SportScreen is being used – it’s extremely durable and provides a nice, smooth surface.

A shooting pad that simulates an ice surface can also be purchased separately from SportScreen, which will additionally protect the garage floor from scuffing.

A Floortex™ floor coating, slatwall storage with accessories, and the SportScreen create the perfect mini sports training facility, right in your own garage!

Our Calgary location is the only Garage Living franchise currently utilizing the SportScreen in their garage makeovers. Contact them for more details.